We are no longer accepting submissions for the 2013 NTC, but you can review the guidelines, below.

General Guidelines

• Incomplete submissions or those that do not follow the guidelines will NOT be considered. The deadline for submission is August 3rd, 2012.
• Sessions will be chosen based on our agenda decision matrix:
  • NTC Steering Committee Recommendations: 33%
  • Community Voting: 33%
  • NTEN Discretion: 34%
• Submission of a session proposal does not guarantee that you will be chosen as the session designer. You will be considered for the role if you indicate your interest in leading the session on the survey.
• Priority will be given to NTEN members but NTEN membership is not required to lead a session.
• NTC Sessions are all 90 minutes with the exception of 3-hour hands-on workshops. It's your decision how that time will divide out. We do recommend that you plan for plenty of Q/A and discussion.
• NTEN values diversity in all of our programming and encourages submissions from those who are traditionally under-represented in technology. 
• NTC session designers and speakers will still be required to purchase NTC registration. 

Session Guidelines & Definitions

• Session Track: The track the session best aligns with:
  • Communications: Sessions in the Communications Track will focus on ideas and examples to help you build and strengthen relationships with your community, including: clients, supporters, media, and decision-makers. These sessions will let you explore and learn from the lessons of successful (and failed) efforts to integrate new communications technologies and tactics while also providing tangible guidance and inspiration for your own communications programs.
  • Fundraising: Sessions in the the Fundraising Track aim to explore the many ways that technology and the Internet continue to shape fundraising practices. These sessions will help you create a plan, understand prevailing practices, and develop innovative new ideas related to fundraising.
  • Leadership: Sessions in the Leadership Tack are designed for the decision makers at any nonprofit.  These sessions will guide you in providing a vision for the role of technology in your organization, help you lead your organization to that vision, and provide a framework for making smart technology decisions.
  • IT: Sessions in the IT Track are for staff and consultants who manage and support technology infrastructure. Sessions in this track are for all nonprofit techies, no matter how you arrived at your role, looking to share success stories, challenges, voice concerns, and glean wisdom from each other.
  • Program: Sessions in the the Program Track are designed for the individuals on the front lines, delivering programs and serving their communities. In this track, you'll explore some of the most cutting edge applications of technology today and learn how technology can increase not only your efficiency, but your effectiveness.
  • Connect:  Sessions in the the Connect Track are all about connecting with other nonprofit technology community members. Sessions in this track are networking based, and focused on peer knowledge sharing. Organized by specific topics and/or job functions, they're designed to be interactive conversations. Has a moderator and agenda or is a moderated discussion with a loose agenda. Social networking and peer learning are the main outcomes. Examples: Managing social media or IT Directors
• Session Theme: Please choose the one theme within the track that best aligns with your proposal. The NTC Steering Committee has discussed major themes that we'll use to guide us as we decide which sessions to include in each track of the conference agenda:
  
  • IT
  • Communication
  • Fundraising
  • Leadership
  • Program
  • Connect
• Session Title: The title of the session
• Session Description: Describe what your session will cover, what questions it will answer, what need it will address
• Session Takeaways: The three (3) takeaways/learning outcomes that attendees should expect to take away from your session.
• Session Focus: The PRIMARY focus of your session from these four. We understand some sessions may include elements from several of these, so please choose one based on the primary focus of the session:
  
  
  • Fundamentals: This session assumes attendees have no experience in the specific area. This means that there will be no jargon and all acronyms will be clearly spelled-out and defined. Examples: IT Networking Fundamentals, Online Engagement Basics, Overview of Online Fundraising, Social Media 101, Understanding Technology Projects.
  • Strategy: This session focuses on the strategies to employ when approaching a topic. This means that the focus is on the big picture of excellent strategic practices. Examples: IT Planning & Budgeting Strategy, Online Engagement Strategy, Strategies for Effective Data Management, Principles of Effective Social Media, Evaluation and Measurement Strategies, Change Management Strategies.
  • Tactics: This session focuses on the tactics used to execute on strategies. This means the focus is on practical, tactical advice and examples. Examples: Choosing and Implementing a New Database, Effective Email Fundraising Campaigns, How to Visualize Data, Getting Beyond The "Like" on Facebook, Using Technology to Evaluate Program Impacts, Change Management Tactics, Practical Tips for Content Curation.
  • Tools: This session focuses on a single tool or set of tools. This means the focus is on selecting/implementing/maintaining tools, helping attendees understand options, common functions and features. Examples: A Few Good Donor Management Tools, Online Map Creation Tools, All About Pinterest, Infographic Creation Tools, Mobile Donation Tools, Cloud-Based Server Options.
• Session Classification: Please indicate at least two preferred attributes of your sessions >attendees.
  This means specifics about who the session is targeted towards. "All Nonprofits" or "Fundraising Staff" is not specific enough, it must include behaviors or knowledge that are required.
  
  Examples:
  • This session is most appropriate for people who post to Facebook daily and who review Facebook Insights at least once a month;
  • This session is most appropriate for those who have a written technology plan and are looking for help with implementing the plan;
  • This session is most appropriate for those who are supporting over 100 users in a networked environment.

• Session Style: Choose which session style you would like to present the content in. Please note that the workshop style is a 3-hour session. All other styles will be be in 90-minute sessions.
  • Solo: One presenter, formal presentation / 90 minutes
  • Duo: Two presenters, formal presentation / 90 minutes
  • Panel: Panel discussion with multiple viewpoints / 90 minutes
  • Workshop: Interactive, hands-on learning, tangible takeaways / 3 hours
  • Salon: Moderated by someone with topical knowledge. While these have a set description and takeaways, the agenda is created in the session. Not your typical presentation but a peer-sharing session for discussion around in-depth, advanced topics. This is an educational session meant to tap into the wisdom in the room. Come prepared to circle the chairs, rock the flip charts, and meet your community, and remember: Real Techies Talk to Each Other / 90 minutes
• Session Tags: Tags that indicate the topic areas that are associated with the session
• Personal Information: Please provide your name, title, organization, and a short bio (250 word limit). This is also where you may indicate who you think should design and present the session you are proposing. If your session involves a panel, you may also indicate other potential speakers. Please note that your session proposal will appear anonymously during the NTC Community Vote.